Last October the Hall of Fame committee elected two dogs into NSTRA’s Hall of Fame. One of those two dogs worthy of induction was Ace’s King. King was out of Louie’s Mohawk Deuce and Jack’s Candy Apple.
Ace’s King belonged to past NSTRA president Bob Cunningham of Medora, Illinois. He was purchased from Matt West of Bunker Hill, Illinois. Bob got the bargain of his life, only paying $50 for King. No one seemed to want the darkest puppy in the litter, but Mr. Cunningham saw something in that little dark-faced setter. Bob started his NSTRA trialing career in September of 1980. And on a May day in 1981 at Gunsmoke Kennels, King showed Bob what a bargain he did get and what caliber of dog he had on his hands. He placed second at that trial.
From that point on, there was no stopping Ace’s King. He earned his first NSTRA championship by October of 1983. In April of 1984 he earned number two. Later that year Ace’s King won the Illinois region elimination. He won the Champion of Champions Trial in April of 1985 with a posted score of 1052 points thus also becoming an American Field Champion. In 1986 he became a 7 and 8 time champion, along with a second place finish in the Illinois region elimination. King earned his 9th championship in January of 1987 with number 10 just 8 short months later in September of 1987. King was NSTRA’S first 10 time Champion. His last placement came in January of 1988 which gave him his 11x NSTRA championship. Bob retired King after his 11x Championship at the age of nine years old.
Bob and King were trialing at a time when many trials were only held on Saturday only and endurance trials were unheard of; a time when points and championships were more difficult to earn than today. King was the kind of dog one only dreams of; a dog that can wild-birdhunt one day and field trial the next. More than one judge made the statement that King was probably the most “broke” dog in NSTRA at that time. It was a time when NSTRA dogs were taught to hold that point no matter what. There was not such a thing as “moving from its resting place”. The dog had to hold point even if the bird walked under its nose.
King traveled many miles in a dog trailer to trials. He traveled even more miles by himself. You see, King was a free spirit who would take off on little adventures now and then. He ran off in Minnesota, crossed two busy interstates to end up attending a bbq with some folks 15 miles from the field trial grounds. One winter he decided to hunt on his own while wild-birdhunting in Childress, Texas only to be picked up by two ladies and hauled to Dallas (approximately 4 hours away) and was retrieved by Bobby Clark. His escapade in Washington State the next fall landed him on a cattle ranch. Gailen Carothers rescued King that time and flew home with him to make sure he “landed safely”. Luckily for King, he was usually found by someone who would call Bob and say “I think I have your dog here”. He left the field one morning while Bob and Marilyn were in Florida in 1990 only to never return. We hope he ended up with some nice people and didn’t end up an alligator’s lunch, which seems to be the theory.
King sired 17 dogs who placed in NSTRA field trials. They are: Ace’s Oscar’s Cissy, Bridgette Greenwood, King’s Dizzy Tis, Master Mohawk Mike, AK’s Ike, Woodland’s King Reggie, Perkins Dixie Bell, Ace’s Hope, Ace’s Whisky Lady, King’s Blitzen, King’s Gabby Girl, Trentham’s Dixie Amy, Smokin Mohawk, Ace’s Rebel Sally, Ace’s Ranger, and T’s Dixie King. In 1991 Master Mohawk Mike won the Top Performance Award, Ace’s Whisky Lady won the NSTRA Dog of the Year trial in 1992 and Smokin Mohawk was 3rd runner-up in the 1995 Ralston Purina Endurance Trial.
Tomoka’s Smokin Mike was owned by Greg Wood and Logan Arnsparger of Kentucky. Mike was a 15x NSTRA champion out of Tricky Dick Jim by Cash Master Kelly.
Greg has been field trialing since he was a young boy. He joined NSTRA in 1981. It wasn’t until 1990 when Mike came along. Greg knew he had something special in this little setter pup. Mike captured his first placement at the tender age of 22 months at the Ohio County Quail Hunters trial in October of 1991. It didn’t take Mike long to figure this field trialing out as he had earned his first championship one year later in 1992.
Tomoka’s Smokin Mike averaged about two championships per year after that first one. He earned numbers 2 and 3 in 1993, numbers 4 and 5 in 1994, numbers 6 and 7 in 1995, numbers 8 and 9 in 1996. Then he doubled his efforts – earning his 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th NSTRA championships in ONE YEAR!! One championship is quite an accomplishment, but four in one year is absolutely phenomenal!
And phenomenal he was. Along with that, his accomplishments include: fourth in 1993 Kentucky region elimination; second in the 1993 Dog of the Year trial; first in the 1994 Kentucky region elimination; fourth in the 1994 Trial of Champions; third in the 1995 Dog of the Year; second in the 1997 Quail Invitational; third in the 1997 and 1998 Kentucky region elimination; second in the 1999 Quail Invitational; and fourth in the 1999 Grand National.
Mike was a once in a lifetime dog – but his daughter Sadie is proving to be another once in a lifetime dog for Greg and Logan.
Mike has sired 40 dogs who have placed in NSTRA field trials. They are: Tricky Dix Gem, Tekoa’s Tricky Bull, Barb’s Tekoa Trouble, Tekoa’s Gusto, Tomoka’s Smokin Sadie, Tomoka’s Star Sunrise, Lightfoot Max, Tomoka’s Smokin Chip, Maggie’s Smokin Jed, Tomoka’s Smokin Maggie, Smokin Red Pepper, I’m Smokin Rocky, Maggie’s Smokin Cody, Spud Lake Bessie, I’m Your Huckleberry, Smokin Moses, Tomoka’s Slick Trick, Jafkens Movin Maria, Phipp’s Susanna Sue, Blue Grass J.D., Smokin Tomoka’s Babe, Maggie’s Smokin Jessie, Basketts Speck, Smith’s Performer Jake, Tomoka’s Smokin Buster, Mike’s Maximum, Rough River Jake, Lyssa’s Miss Nellie, Freckled Kate Marie, Tomoka’s Smokin Ruby, Tekoa’s Smokin Scout, Tomoka’s Smokin Max, Carnley’s Tekoa Max, Nalls Smokin Wheel, Mike’s Smokin Pepper, Mike’s Smokin Sadie, Tomoka’s Smokin Blu, Smokin Duchess, Reason for Divorce and Wild Willy.
Mike was not only a great bird dog as proven, but he was an awesome pet, best friend, and companion to have around. He will be missed by his family and a few trialers for years to come. He showed that English setters have what it takes! He had the endurance, intelligence, confidence, and most of all, he had heart. He was in it for himself, of course, but most of all, he did it to please his co-partner, Greg. They were a team that knew what to do with only a look of the eye. There will never be a pair like them. We’ll miss you Mike!! See you in bird dog heaven. (Morgan & Meghan says)
Grandfathered Inductees
On April 24th at the regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting in Amo, Indiana the Board of Directors approved the following dogs for grandfather induction into the NSTRA Hall of Fame. There were 10 dogs prior to 1990 and 10 dogs after 1990. These fine dogs have made a tremendous impact in NSTRA and we are very proud to recognize their efforts.
Pre-1990 Grandfathered Inductees
Boomer’s Boy – Steve Littrell
Layton’s Final Request – Layton Peddicord
He’s Just Right – Dale Loveall
Rustoleum’s Flush – John Smith
Tricky Dick Jim – Bill Moore
Southern Doctor – Ray Johnson
Tuminski’s Cribb – John Tuminski
Reno Von Maggie May – Dale Anderson
Brandy’s Black Matt – Rocky Weber
Barb’s Dixie Bell – Randy Perkins
1990 to Present Grandfathered Inductees
Fiddlin Sweet Music – Ron Parsons
Wilsher Southern Son – Bill Napier
Tricky Dick – Bill Moore
Ozark Rebel Rex – Dan Scully
Master Mohawk Mike – Bob Cunningham
Tomoka’s Hot Spot – Jim Mahoney
Elhew Mary – Bob Swearingin
Pearl Who – Bobby Clark
Whiskey Run Dot – Will Heddon
Smokin Mohawk – Terry Tison
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Tomoka's Smokin Sadie
16xCH NSTRA
Hall of Fame
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